Morphogenesis and biomimetic mineralization of inorganic minerals and inorganic-organic hybrid materials have attracted a lot of attention recently. By use of simple organic molecules, surfactant or low molecular weight polymers as additives, various forms of inorganic minerals and inorganic-organic hybrids can be synthesized by polymer controlled crystallization process. Recent progresses on the synergistic effects of the functionalities of a polymer, its controlled crystallization in a mixed solvent and its combination with either a hard interface or an air/solution interface, or a liquid/liquid interface, will be overviewed. The combination of a polymer additive with a suitable mineralization media or an interface (soft or hard) makes it possible to access various inorganic superstructures with complexity and specialty. The new findings in the area of polymer controlled crystallization provide new and exciting possibilities for rational design of various kinds of inorganic and inorganic-organic hybrid materials with ideal hierarchy and controllable length scale. References (1)S. H. Yu, H. Cölfen, K. Tauer, M. Antonietti, Nature Materials 2005, 5, 51. (2)X. H. Guo, S. H. Yu, G. B. Cai, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2006, 45, 3977. (3)S. H. Yu, Top. Curr. Chem. 2006, 271, 79. (4)H. Cölfen, S. H. Yu, MRS Bull. 2005, 30, 727. (5)S. H. Yu, H. Cölfen, J. Mater. Chem. 2004, 14, 2124. (6)Q. Zhang, S. J. Liu, S. H. Yu, J. Mater. Chem. 2008, Invited Feature Article. In press. (7)S. F. Chen, S. H. Yu, T. X. Wang, J. Jiang, H. Cölfen, B. Hu, B. Yu, Adv. Mater. 2005, 17, 1461. (8)B. Liu, S. H. Yu, L. Li, Q. Zhang, F. Zhang, K. Jiang, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2004, 43, 4745. (9)Y. X. Gao, S. H. Yu, H. P. Cong, J. Jiang, A. W. Xu, W. F. Dong, H. Cölfen, J. Phys. Chem. B 2006, 110, 6432. (10)Y. X. Gao, S. H. Yu, Langmuir 2006, 22, 6125. (11)S. F. Chen, S. H. Yu, T. X. Wang, J. Jiang, H. Cölfen, B. Hu, B. Yu, Adv. Mater. 2005, 17, 1461. (12)S. F. Chen, S. H. Yu, J. Jiang, F. Q. Li, Y. K. Liu, Chem. Mater. 2006, 18, 115. (13)X. H. Guo, A. W. Xu, S. H. Yu, Crystal Growth Design 2008, 8, 1233-1242. (14)X. H. Guo, S. H. Yu, Crystal Growth Design 2007, 7, 354-359.
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